UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Temple

Chuson-ji Temple

The head Tendai temple founded in 850, significantly expanded in the 12th century and designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

Temple

Daigo-ji Temple

Over 1,100-year-old Buddhist temple complex and head temple of the Daigo branch of Shingon Buddhism, centered on an ancient natural spring.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Goshono Ruins

A UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2021 as part of a collective listing encompassing 17 Jomon archaeological sites across four northern prefectures.

Ichinohe · Iwate

Temple

Horyu-ji

This seventh-century Buddhist temple features some of the world's oldest wooden structures and several national treasures, including a five-story pagoda.

Ikaruga · Nara

Temple

Enryaku-ji

Founded in 788 by Saicho, this Tendai Buddhist headquarters on Mount Hiei hosts the famous kaihogyo practice and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Otsu · Shiga

Museum

Tomioka Silk Mill

A historic silk mill built by the Japanese government in 1872 that transformed the country into the world's leading raw silk exporter.

Tomioka · Gunma

Historic Site

Ainokura Gassho-style Village

A village in the UNESCO-listed Gokayama region with 20 traditional gassho-style houses, some over 400 years old, with steep thatched roofs built to shed snow.

Nanto · Toyama

Castle

Shuri Castle

Royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Seiden main hall burned in 2019 and reopens rebuilt on 2026/11/23.

Naha · Okinawa

Temple

Todai-ji

Established in 738, this Nara temple houses the largest bronze Buddha statue and serves as headquarters of the Kegon Buddhist school.

Nara

Temple

Kofuku-ji

Eighth-century Buddhist temple in Nara, chief sanctuary of the Fujiwara clan and one of Japan's Seven Great Temples, featuring historic pagodas.

Nara

Historic Site

Asuka-Fujiwara

The Nara-Prefecture ruins where Japan's first centralised state took shape, newly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2026.

Kashihara · Nara

Shrine

Kumano Nachi Taisha

One of the three grand shrines of Kumano, beside Japan's tallest waterfall, and home of the Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow on Japan's football crest.

Wakayama

Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

The floating shrine of Miyajima, built out over a tidal cove, with its great vermilion torii standing in the sea off the sacred island.

Hatsukaichi · Hiroshima

Shrine

Kasuga-taisha

A major shrine with over 3,000 affiliated shrines nationwide, maintained through a tradition of structural renewal held every 20 years.

Nara

Mountain

Mount Fuji

Japan's highest peak and a UNESCO-designated sacred volcano, accessible to climbers during the official season from July to September.

Temple

Yakushi-ji

Seventh-century Buddhist temple in Nara, built in Chinese style and ranked among the Seven Great Temples, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nara

Temple

Shokoku-ji

Fourteenth-century Zen temple in Kyoto founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, featuring traditional gardens, rock gardens and renowned sub-temples.

Kyoto

Temple

Kiyomizu-dera

Buddhist temple on a Kyoto hillside featuring a cantilevered wooden stage, UNESCO World Heritage site with treasured religious artifacts.

Kyoto

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan | Hey Japan!

Temple

Chuson-ji Temple

The head Tendai temple founded in 850, significantly expanded in the 12th century and designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Hiraizumi · Iwate

Temple

Daigo-ji Temple

Over 1,100-year-old Buddhist temple complex and head temple of the Daigo branch of Shingon Buddhism, centered on an ancient natural spring.

Kyoto

Historic Site

Goshono Ruins

A UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2021 as part of a collective listing encompassing 17 Jomon archaeological sites across four northern prefectures.

Ichinohe · Iwate

Temple

Horyu-ji

This seventh-century Buddhist temple features some of the world's oldest wooden structures and several national treasures, including a five-story pagoda.

Ikaruga · Nara

Temple

Enryaku-ji

Founded in 788 by Saicho, this Tendai Buddhist headquarters on Mount Hiei hosts the famous kaihogyo practice and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Otsu · Shiga

Museum

Tomioka Silk Mill

A historic silk mill built by the Japanese government in 1872 that transformed the country into the world's leading raw silk exporter.

Tomioka · Gunma

Historic Site

Ainokura Gassho-style Village

A village in the UNESCO-listed Gokayama region with 20 traditional gassho-style houses, some over 400 years old, with steep thatched roofs built to shed snow.

Nanto · Toyama

Castle

Shuri Castle

Royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Seiden main hall burned in 2019 and reopens rebuilt on 2026/11/23.

Naha · Okinawa

Temple

Todai-ji

Established in 738, this Nara temple houses the largest bronze Buddha statue and serves as headquarters of the Kegon Buddhist school.

Nara

Temple

Kofuku-ji

Eighth-century Buddhist temple in Nara, chief sanctuary of the Fujiwara clan and one of Japan's Seven Great Temples, featuring historic pagodas.

Nara

Historic Site

Asuka-Fujiwara

The Nara-Prefecture ruins where Japan's first centralised state took shape, newly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2026.

Kashihara · Nara

Shrine

Kumano Nachi Taisha

One of the three grand shrines of Kumano, beside Japan's tallest waterfall, and home of the Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow on Japan's football crest.

Wakayama

Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

The floating shrine of Miyajima, built out over a tidal cove, with its great vermilion torii standing in the sea off the sacred island.

Hatsukaichi · Hiroshima

Shrine

Kasuga-taisha

A major shrine with over 3,000 affiliated shrines nationwide, maintained through a tradition of structural renewal held every 20 years.

Nara

Mountain

Mount Fuji

Japan's highest peak and a UNESCO-designated sacred volcano, accessible to climbers during the official season from July to September.

Temple

Yakushi-ji

Seventh-century Buddhist temple in Nara, built in Chinese style and ranked among the Seven Great Temples, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nara

Temple

Shokoku-ji

Fourteenth-century Zen temple in Kyoto founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, featuring traditional gardens, rock gardens and renowned sub-temples.

Kyoto

Temple

Kiyomizu-dera

Buddhist temple on a Kyoto hillside featuring a cantilevered wooden stage, UNESCO World Heritage site with treasured religious artifacts.

Kyoto

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